10,000+
Adults trained
Individuals equipped with in-demand tech and workforce skills
14 November 2026 · Winter Park Events Center
Brilliance in Orbit: The Diamond Decade Gala
Celebrating ten years of building opportunity through technology, entrepreneurship, and workforce development.
240Guests expected
$125K+Fundraising goal
10Years of impact
Nov 14Winter Park, Florida
A milestone moment
Ten years of impact — the next decade starts now
For ten years, Building Our Tech has been a transformative force across Central Florida — helping individuals learn in-demand skills, launch businesses, navigate career transitions, and access real economic opportunity. What began as a bold vision has grown into a regional movement.
Brilliance in Orbit is more than a gala. It is a declaration that the best is yet to come. Every sponsorship, every table, and every gift is an investment in the next decade of workforce development, entrepreneurship, and economic mobility.
A decade of results
Our impact by the numbers
Ten years of commitment to building opportunity across Central Florida — one person, one business, one career at a time.
300+
Career transitions
Professionals who pivoted into higher-paying, high-demand roles
50+
Businesses launched
Entrepreneurs who turned ideas into thriving enterprises
50+
Corporate partners
Organizations investing in talent and community development
$2M+
Economic value created
Measurable impact generated across the regional economy
10
Years of service
A decade of dedication to economic mobility and access
The road here
Ten years, milestone by milestone
From a single meetup in a borrowed room to a regional ecosystem — the moments that got us here.
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Nov 2016
First BOT meetup.
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Aug 2018
Awarded an Orlando Tech Community Support Pilot Program grant.
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Aug 2018
Began giving back to the community — raised funds and purchased school supplies for students at Robinswood Middle.
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Oct 2018
Joined ten other tech groups with Orlando Tech to pack 7,500 meals for Feeding Children Everywhere.
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Jan 2019
First dinner with the Google Devs team, beginning a partnership with the local Google developer community that continues today.
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Feb 2019
First collaboration with the Zora Neale Hurston Festival and Tech Sassy Girlz.
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Feb 2019
Media coverage from Fox 35 and the Orlando Business Journal.
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Aug 2019
Officially recognized as a nonprofit organization on 12 August.
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Aug 2019
First international speaker.
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Mar 2020
Tech Refresh Project for the Wells’Built Museum.
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Feb 2021
Orange County partnership and funding.
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Mar 2021
Orlando Economic Partnership, Fiverr, and City of Orlando partnership and funding.
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Sep 2022
Additions Financial partnership and funding.
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Oct 2024
Largest amount awarded at a pitch competition to date — $17,500 split between three BOT founders.
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Mar 2025
Tech Founder Showcase — more than $2M in funding raised by founders.
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Sep 2025
ScaleUp — first full-day business conference.
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Apr 2026
SIGNATURE — Orlando’s creative business summit, designed for founders, creators, and builders.
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Jun 2026
Launchpad Liftoff pitch competition — $10,000 awarded to one BOT founder.
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Nov 2026
Brilliance in Orbit — the first gala, celebrating ten years of access, innovation, and tech ecosystem growth.
Where the money goes
What your investment makes possible
Every dollar contributed flows directly into programming. Here is what different levels of giving accomplish.
$5,000
Technology workforce training
Supports workforce workshops and career readiness programming that put individuals on a path to tech careers.
$10,000
Career readiness & entrepreneurship education
Supports a full technology workforce cohort and expands entrepreneurship education for aspiring founders.
$15,000
Founder support & scholarships
Expands founder and entrepreneurship programming and funds community scholarships for deserving participants.
$25,000+
Professional development at scale
Helps power workforce and entrepreneurship pathways at scale, creating broader regional economic impact.
Evening program
An evening of celebration, connection, and impact
Join more than 240 leaders, innovators, founders, executives, and community champions for an evening honoring the people and organizations shaping our region’s future.
Cocktail Reception
Mingle with Central Florida’s most influential leaders over curated drinks and conversation.
Awards Celebration
Honoring trailblazers and champions who have shaped a decade of opportunity.
Silent Auction
Bid on exclusive experiences and items while supporting the mission directly.
Mission Moment
A powerful look at the stories and lives transformed over the past ten years.
Live Entertainment
A memorable live performance that brings the diamond decade theme to life.
Networking & After Party
Keep the celebration going with extended networking and an energising after party.
240 expected guests
Who will be in the room
A chance to align your brand with the leaders driving innovation, economic growth, and workforce development throughout Central Florida.
- Corporate executives
- Financial institutions
- Government officials
- Workforce development leaders
- Technology leaders
- Healthcare organizations
- Economic development partners
- Startup founders & investors
- Building Our Tech alumni
2026 sponsorship menu
Sponsorship opportunities
Every sponsorship directly supports workforce training, entrepreneurship education, and community impact across Central Florida.
| Tier | Investment | Availability | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diamond Decade Presenting Partner | $35,000 | 1 available | Exclusive |
| Galaxy Partner | $25,000 | 2 available | Premier |
| Workforce Champion Sponsor | $15,000 | 2 available | Premier |
| Leadership Sponsor | $10,000 | 2 available | Open |
| Signature Experience Sponsorships | $5,000 – $7,500 | 4 available | Open |
| Innovation Sponsor | $5,000 | 8 available | Open |
| Table Sponsor | $2,500 | 6 available | Open |
Sponsorship tiers
What each level includes
Exclusive · 1 available
Diamond Decade Presenting Partner
$35,000
The highest level of recognition at the gala. Co-branded leadership at its finest — your brand woven into every moment of the evening.
- Co-branded event title and premier logo on all gala materials, event screen, and step & repeat
- Opening remarks and an award presentation from stage, in front of 240 guests
- Two VIP tables — reserved seating for 16 at the most prominent tables in the venue
- 4 social media spotlights, 2 newsletter features, press release inclusion
- Full-page program recognition and logo in the thank-you video
- Post-event impact report and first right of renewal for 2027
Premier · 2 available
Galaxy Partner
$25,000
A cornerstone partnership positioning your organization as a leading force behind the Diamond Decade Gala.
- Prominent logo placement on all gala materials
- Logo on event screen and step & repeat
- Award presentation opportunity from stage
- VIP table for 8 guests and a private photo opportunity with BOT leadership
- 3 social media spotlights, 2 newsletter features, press release inclusion
- Post-event impact report
Premier · 2 available
Workforce Champion Sponsor
$15,000
A mid-tier partnership aligning your brand directly with BOT’s core mission of workforce development and career advancement.
- Prominent brand recognition across all major gala materials and signage
- Reserved table for 8 guests with VIP reception access
- Verbal stage acknowledgment
- Two social media features and newsletter recognition
- Half-page program recognition and post-event impact report
Open · 2 available
Leadership Sponsor
$10,000
Premier visibility across the evening with reserved VIP seating and stage recognition.
- Premier logo on all gala materials and in the program booklet
- Logo on event screen and step & repeat
- Verbal recognition from stage
- Reserved VIP table for 8 guests
- 2 social media posts, newsletter mention, logo in the thank-you video
- Post-event impact report
Open · 8 available
Innovation Sponsor
$5,000
Strong visibility and a reserved table, at the most accessible full-sponsorship level.
- Logo placement on event materials
- Reserved VIP table for 8 guests
- Program, website and social media recognition
- Stage acknowledgment
Open · 6 available
Table Sponsor
$2,500
Bring your team for the evening and be recognized in the program.
- Reserved VIP table for 8 guests
- Logo listing in the program booklet
- Logo in the post-event thank-you video
Exclusive activations
Signature experience sponsorships
Four opportunities to own a defining moment of the evening.
Signature activation
Cocktail Reception Sponsor
$7,500
Become the exclusive sponsor of the evening’s networking experience and opening celebration.
Signature activation
Awards Experience Sponsor
$7,500
Align your brand with recognition, achievement, and the celebration of impact.
Signature activation
Photo & Media Experience Sponsor
$5,000
Sponsor the official photo experience, media moments, and social sharing throughout the evening.
Signature activation
Entertainment & After Party Sponsor
$5,000
Power the energy of the evening through entertainment, celebration, and attendee engagement.
Every Signature Experience Sponsor receives exclusive activation branding, event signage, program recognition, website recognition, social media recognition, and verbal acknowledgment during the gala.
Ten years. One community. Infinite futures.
Access to technology, entrepreneurship and career opportunity should not be determined by zip code, background, or circumstance. The Diamond Decade Gala is our celebration of that belief.
Invest in the next decade
Ways to give
Whether through a sponsorship, a silent auction bid, or a personal contribution, every investment helps create lasting pathways to opportunity.
Corporate sponsorships
Align your brand with a decade of impact and the next generation of innovation across our region.
Strategic partnerships
Join a growing ecosystem of organizations committed to workforce equity and economic mobility.
Silent auction
Bid on curated experiences and items while making a direct contribution to the mission.
Voluntary giving
Every gift, at any level, helps build pathways to opportunity for those who need it most.
Who funds the work
Funding partners
Ten years of programming has been underwritten by organizations that chose to invest in Central Florida talent.
Current funding partners
- Orange County Government
- Truist Foundation
- J.P. Morgan Chase
- Target
Past funding partners
- City of Orlando
- Orlando Economic Partnership
- Fiverr
- Additions Financial
The Central Florida ecosystem
Who we’ve worked alongside
None of this happened in isolation. Over ten years we have collaborated, co-hosted, shared rooms and swapped audiences with organizations right across Central Florida — coworking spaces and innovation hubs, chambers of commerce, universities, recruiting firms, community groups, sports teams, museums and festivals, small businesses, and some of the largest employers in the region. Some of them no longer exist. The work still counts.
- 8 Cents in a Jar
- Accesso
- African American Chamber of Commerce
- AIGA Orlando
- BBIF
- Bethune-Cookman University
- Black Health Commission
- Canvs Parramore
- Catalyst Co-Working Space
- Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens
- Defense Innovation Unit (DIU)
- EA Sports
- Enterprising Black Orlando
- Envy Labs
- Eola View
- Google Developer Group
- Great Southern Box Company
- HBCUForce
- Indienomicon
- Informulate
- Kforce
- Massey Services
- National Entrepreneurship Center
- Nerd Nite Orlando
- Orlando Developers (ODEVS)
- Orlando Game Space
- Orlando Innovate
- Orlando Innovation League (OIL)
- Orlando Magic
- Otronicon, Orlando Science Center
- Peete Learning
- Phoenix Capital Solutions
- Plug and Play
- Radix Innovation Capital
- Route 7 Orlando
- Salesforce
- Sideward Brewing
- Space Happy Hour
- Starter Studio
- Startup Weekend Orlando (SWORL)
- StickerPrintGo
- Tech Sassy Girlz
- TekSystems
- The Conduit
- The Grape & Grain
- UCF Black Faculty & Student Association
- UCF Blackstone LaunchPad
- Wells’Built Museum
- Women in Tech & Entrepreneurship
- Women on the Rise
- Zora Neale Hurston Festival
Listed alphabetically, and deliberately incomplete — ten years of showing up in the same rooms involves more people than any one page can hold. If we have worked together and you are not here, tell us and we will put that right.
FAQ
Gala questions
When and where is the Diamond Decade Gala?
Saturday 14 November 2026 at the Winter Park Events Center in Winter Park, Florida.
What is the gala raising money for?
The fundraising goal is $125,000 or more. Proceeds fund technology workforce training, career readiness programming, entrepreneurship education, and community scholarships across Central Florida.
Who attends?
Around 240 guests: corporate executives, government officials, technology leaders, economic development partners, startup founders and investors, financial institutions, workforce development leaders, healthcare organizations, and Building Our Tech alumni.
What sponsorship levels are available?
Sponsorships run from a $2,500 Table Sponsor through to the $35,000 Diamond Decade Presenting Partner, with four Signature Experience activations between $5,000 and $7,500.
What happens during the evening?
A cocktail reception, awards celebration, silent auction, mission moment, live entertainment, and a networking after party.
How do I sponsor or buy a table?
Contact Safia Porter at safia@buildingourtech.org or Emily Walker at emily@buildingourtech.org, or reserve online.
Reserve your sponsorship
Let’s build the next decade together
Reserve your sponsorship today and be part of a night that changes lives.
Safia PorterExecutive Director
safia@buildingourtech.org
Emily WalkerExperience & Operations Strategist
emily@buildingourtech.org